Clothes-line prop.



PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

R. I. WILLIAMS & E. F. SEACRIST.

CLOTHES LINE PROP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1906.

2/03 1'11 use:

attuned UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT I. I/VILLIAMS, OF STRUTHERS, AND EMERSON F. SEAORIST, OF GIRARD, OHIO.

CLOTHES-LINE PROP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1 1, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ROBERT I. IVILLIAMS and EMERSON F. SEACRIST, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Struthers and Girard, in the counties of Mahoning and Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Line Props, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothes line props and it particularly contemplates a prop comprising stationary and movable members. In this connection it is a primary object of the present invention to provide means for setting the movable member at any desired point with relation to the stationary member. The means above set forth is also designed to serve as an element of a novel lifting device employed in connection with the movable member.

The detailed construction will appear in the course of the following description in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like numerals designating like parts throughout the several views, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a clothes line prop constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I employ a stationary prop section or standard 1 comprising an elongated tube designed to rest upon or bite into the ground. The tube 1 forms a stationary element of the prop and cooperates with a tube 2 telescoped within the upper end thereof. The tube 2 has rigid connection at its upper end in any desired manner with the downwardly extending shank 3 of a head at which is formed with a transverse groove 5 for the reception of the clothes line. The shank 3 in the preferred embodiment of the invention is tightly wedged within the tube 2 and affords a positive connection between said tube and said head 4. An inclined stationary catch 6 is mounted upon the head 4 and overlies the groove 5, said catch serving to co-act with said groove in establishing a bite upon the clothes line. The head 4 is designed to be moved with relation to the tube 1 and to carry the tube 2 therewith and to this end said head has rigid connection by means of a screw 7 with the flattened apertured end of a depending rod 8, parallel to the tubes 1 and 2 and formed with an off-set lower portion 9. The rod 8 has pivotal connection at its eX- tremity as at 10 with a handle 11 terminating in a split collar 12 designed to surround the tube 1 in spaced concentric relation.

In practical use the tube 2 carrying the head 4, is raised or lowered to any selected height, by the handle 11 and rod 8 connecting the same with said head. I/Vhen said tube 2 has been moved as desired, as the pressure upon the handle is released, the weight of the tube 2 will serve to depress said handle into the inclined position shown in the drawing, in which operation the edge of the collar 12 l'rictionallyengages the outer concentric surface of the tube 1, as a pivot, and after said handle 1]. has assumed its inclined position until its movement .is restricted by impingement against the opposite side of the tube 1, the collar 12 will maintain its frictional bite upon the tube 1 and will sus tain the parts in the position in which they have been set.

IVhile the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the functions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the propertions, shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the ap pended claims.

Having fully described my invention I claim:

A clothes line prop comprising a stationary tubular member, a tubular member telescoping and slidable therein and provided with an enlarged head on its upper, outer end having a transverse groove for the reception of a clothes line, a rod connected to said head on said movable member and extending downwardly outside and adjacent said stationary member, a handle member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the lower end of said rod and provided with a collar encircling adapted to be moved into frictional engagement therewith by the downward movement of said rod, substantially as described.

said stationary member and ROBERT I. WVILLIAMS. EMERSON F. SEACRIST.

Witnesses:

F. F. WlLsoN, W. N. WILSON. 

